Tag Archives: recommendations

Where to Eat in Madison, AL

January 16, 2020Food, Traveladventures in Alabama, Alabama, eating out, Madison, recommendations, restaurants, where we eatBeth Berger

best places to eat in madison, al

When it comes to eating out, I’m pretty basic. Give me a burger, a taco, or a slice of pizza and I’m a happy girl. And since eating out is such a rare treat for us (I’d say we eat 90% or so of our meals at home), when we DO indulge…I want what I want!

So, to give you an idea of what I want when it comes to dining establishments in our little town of Madison, AL, I thought I’d round up a few of our favorites. Here’s the list…

OLD BLACK BEAR

This is probably the spot we’ve visited the most since moving to Madison. It’s conveniently located in adorable Historic Madison Station. They brew their own beer, make their own spirits, and have a menu full of delicious pub-fare. Oh, and a banging brunch to boot. Their outdoor patio area is always hopping in the warmer months with picnic tables, live music, and outdoor games. Website HERE.

SAM & GREG’S PIZZERIA

Ok, now that we’ve covered where to get a burger and a beer, we can move on to my other favorite food group — pizza! (I’m a lady of simple pleasures.) This cozy pizzeria has a warehouse meets bistro feel with high ceilings, lots of exposed brick and outdoor balcony seating. As you can see in the picture above, I always opt for salami and banana peppers on my pies. Website HERE.

LUCIA’S COCINA MEXICANA

Lucia isn’t just a name, she’s actually the matriarch of the family that runs this establishment. There’s also a location on the square in Athens, AL, which we’ve been to more, but they’re both delicious. Ya girl is always down for a celebratory margarita. Facebook HERE.

THE CUBAN CAFE

Probably the thing I miss most about Miami, besides going to the beach in the Winter, is the Cuban food and coffee. But then The Cuban Cafe opened in Madison and welp! Miami?! Who needs ya! I can nab all my Cuban favorites at a super delicious and authentic place right up the road, thank you very much. Website HERE.

SAKURA SUSHI & STEAK HOUSE

This is definitely Chet’s favorite on this list — it’s the spot he always picks for birthdays, end of semester celebrations, etc. We love everything we’ve tried there and the atmosphere is always lively because they have hibachi (which we’ve never done because I can’t handle stuff like that lol). Weirdly, they also serve a bunch of really retro cocktails … which doesn’t SEEM like it would go with sushi, but I’m here for it. Website HERE.

LA PLACITA

This is just a little hole in the wall spot near us that I happen to love. Just your typical Mexican restaurant food but everything is insanely cheap. AND they put pineapples in a bunch of dishes which is a fast way to my heart. Facebook HERE.

SMOKEY’S BARBEQUE

Barbeque joints are a dime a dozen in this part of the world. But this is the first one we tried when we moved to town so I feel a sense of loyalty to them. Again, cheap, delicious food that’s perfect in a pinch when you don’t feel like cooking. It’s also a great spot to pick up a whole bunch of food for an event or to bring on a picnic/outdoor event. *sigh* Just thinking about it makes me ready for summertime! Website HERE.

P.S. Want more? Here’s a day in my life as an online content + marketing strategist.

A Peek at My Podcast Subscriptions

August 17, 2019Mediacastbox, itunes, life long learner, listening to lately, podcasts, podcasts I love, recommendations, spotifyBeth Berger

Hey friends! It’s been a little while since I’ve shared my current podcast subscription list. (Here’s a look at the list from Nov ’17.) Wanna see what’s been in my earholes lately?

Culpable

Culpable explores unsettled cases where the people who seem deserving of blame somehow eluded justice. On February 26, 2014, Christian Andreacchio was found dead in the upstairs bathroom of his apartment from a single gunshot wound to the head. After a mere 45-minute investigation, local police ruled his death a suicide, despite substantial evidence that points to Christian’s death not only being a homicide, but premeditated murder.

Who? Weekly

A podcast dedicated to deciphering and celebrating pop culture’s greatest (and not-so-greatest) Whos and Thems. Everything you need to know about celebrities you don’t. Hosted by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber.

Who the Hell is Hamish

He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney – but he could morph into whatever you wanted him to be. Hamish is due to be sentenced to jail for swindling a handful of victims out of more than $7 million. But these crimes are just the final pages in a resume too think to staple; for decades he’s duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia.

Building a StoryBrand with Donald Miller

If you’re frustrated because you struggle to get the word out about your product or service, the Building a StoryBrand podcast will help. Fans of the podcast are ecstatic about the fun and entertaining way Donald Miller brings you practical advice about clarifying your message so customers will listen. Don and the StoryBrand team are the world’s leading experts in harnessing the 2,000 year-old proven power of story formulas to get people talking about your brand.

The Rewatchables

The Rewatchables, a film podcast from the Ringer Podcast network, features HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and a roundtable of people from The Ringer universe discussing movies they can’t seem to stop watching.

Royally Obsessed

Royally Obsessed is the podcast for all things Royals! Kaitlin Menza and Lisa Ryan both write about The Royals for everyone from Cosmo to NY Mag, and each week they discuss the highs and lows in Buckingham Palace, and everything you need to know for high tea.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

A weekly exploration of all the things Jonathan Van Ness is curious about. Go on a journey with Jonathan and experts in their respective fields as they get curious about anything and everything under the sun.

The Freelance Friday Podcast

The Freelance Friday Podcast is all about… you guessed it: freelancing. An inside look at the world of freelancing, featuring tips, tricks, and interviews with people who are doing it right.

Call Your Girlfriend

Call Your Girlfriend is a podcast for long-distance besties everywhere co-hosted by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, and produced by Gina Delvac. Every week, Aminatou and Ann call each other to discuss the intricacies of pop culture and the latest in politics.

Household Name

Surprising stories about how the biggest, household name brands affect our lives and culture — for better or worse. Host Dan Bobkoff finds tales of tragedy, love, strange histories, unintended consequences, and accidental success.

Britney’s Gram

Each week, comedians Tess Barker and Barbara Gray discuss and dissect Britney Spears’s Instagram posts.

Reply All

Reply All is hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, who launched the show in 2014. “A podcast about the internet’ that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.” – The Guardian

And before you ask, NO — I am not able to keep up with all of these. There are some that I’m still listening to episodes that came out years ago…but these are all the shows that are in my current rotation and that I would whole-heartedly recommend. 😉

P.S. I asked 9 friends, “What’s your favorite podcast?” and here’s what they had to say.

Some of My Favorite Life-Changing Products (in case you need more gift ideas…)

December 14, 2018Style and DesignBeth approved, gift ideas, holidays, life changers, products I love, recommendationsBeth Berger

December is a popular time for bloggers to share favorites from the year. Today, I thought I’d get in on the action and gush about a few products I’ve found to be especially life-changing. I think any of these would make a fantastic gift, if you’re still looking for ideas, but they also get the Beth Berger stamp of approval as a doodad that has added value to my life in some way. Here we go…

1. Tom Bihn Synapse 19
I’ve talked about this backpack a lot on this blog, and for good reason. The design is absolutely genius and will keep everything you need to carry organized. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying somewhere for a weekend away or just heading to class, this bag is super fun to pack!

2. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner pens
Fine-tipped marker pens are my key to writing neat and fast. Plus, with all the colors these pens come in, it is super easy to create color-coded systems in my notebooks and planners.

3. Tangle Teezer hairbrush
Ok, seeing is believing with this bad boy. And I certainly didn’t trust the fuss before trying this hairbrush out for myself. I have long, fairly tangle-prone hair and with just a few swipes of the Tangle Teezer all my knots are taken care of. Witchcraft? Probably.

4. Instant Pot
I thought the crock-pot was a thing of beauty and convenience until I cooked beans…FROM DRY…in a matter of minutes with the instant pot.

and steaming basket and silicone cover, too
If you really want to up your IP game, this steaming basket is how we make a protein and a veggie side in one fell swoop, and the cover is great for saving leftovers to reheat the next day!

5. 8-days-a-week planner
A to-do list is only half the battle for me. Once I’ve planned out everything I need to do for the day, I like to take it one step further and plug those to-do’s into a schedule. This planner has the whole day laid out in half hour increments which allows me to see where things can go. I love this puzzle approach.

6. Nomatic compression cube
I’ve tried a ton of packing cubes and this one is by far my favorite! Not only does it slot perfectly down into my Tom Bihn backpack, but the fact that it is two-sided gives me an extra level of organization.

7. Whirly board
This has been SUCH A FUN addition to my workouts over the last couple months. Not to mention a really fun way to get in an active break in the midst of my work day. I just peel myself away from my desk, hop on the board for a few minutes, and PLAY. Bonus: Makes me feel like a badass skater/snowboarder chick.

8. Mask brushes
I try to do a mask every Monday evening. (Set it and forget it self-care FTW!) When I started this ritual, I was just using my fingers to gloop on the masks…which is fine. But then I discovered mask brushes and it was a total game changer!

9. Minimalist wallet
Sometimes I just don’t have a need for a huge billfold and I want to slap a few cards together, throw them in my back pocket and GO. This is the wallet I use for those times. Plus, it even comes with a little spot to tuck a key! Love it.

Do you have any life-changing products you think I should check out? Leave ’em below!

P.S. The entire 2018 Holiday Gift Guide!!!

What’s your favorite podcast?

August 15, 2016Mediaear candy, life long learner, listening to lately, podcasts, podcasts I love, recommendations, smart folks, subscription listBeth Berger

Lately, I’ve found myself in a pretty comfortable podcast rotation. However, I’m always interested to hear what others are listening to. So I asked a few folk, “What’s your favorite podcast?” Here’s how they answered. If you’re looking for some great recommendations, look no further…

“The Black Tapes. Super creepy audio drama, well worth a listen.

The Way I Heard It. 5 minute episodes containing random but compelling anecdotes.

Thinking Sideways. Funny but thorough looks at mysteries at least 5 years old. The hosts have awesome chemistry.”

–Lauren

“Our whole office was waaaay into Serial. Debates about the innocence of Adnan Syed… and if he didn’t do it – who did?”

-Drew

“Wigsnatchers (comedy), 2 Dope Queens (comedy), Limetown (terrifying drama), You Must Remember This (Hollywood history- amazing series on the Manson family), Stuff Mom Never Told You (A+ feminism), The Uncertain Hour (amazing breakdown of poverty/sociology), Tanis (similar to Black Tapes), RuPaul: What’s the Tee? (duh), Gravy (food culture/sociology).”

-Betsy

“I am so hooked on The Black Tapes and Tanis. I also like The Bright Sessions (fiction)–a therapist has patients with special powers and helps them cope with them, and then requisite conspiracy drama ensues.

Really into Lore now, too. Each episode looks at freaky historical events and folk tales.”

-Vince

“Thumbs up for Whistlestop, neat podcast, well-written, researched, and performed by journalist John Dickerson about US Presidential campaign histories.”

-Lydia

“The Read — Kid Fury and Crissle are HILARIOUS. They cover entertainment news, Black excellence, and at the end of each episode they “read” someone or something for FILTH.”

-Ashley

“Please don’t judge me but: Bitch Sesh: a Real Housewives Breakdown by Casey Wilson and Danielle Schnieder (of Happy Endings).”

-Adam

” Keepin’ it 1600 for all your elections needs.

Greatest Generation if you love Star Trek and/or sophomoric humor.”

-Jon

“Nicole Antoinette’s podcast Real Talk Radio. It’s all about building better habits, making tough transformations, success stories and failures and how to make change happen. She’s very honest and raw and has lots of different guests on each season.”

–Laskmy

Other popular favorites included;

Invisibilia, 99% Invisible, More Perfect, RadioLab, Tolkien Talk, Welcome to Night Vale, Alice Isn’t Dead, The Moth, Judge John Hodgman, Science Friday, Small Town Horror, Archive 81, Chapo Trap House, Revisionist History, Embedded, WTF with Marc Maron, Fresh Air, This American Life, All Songs Considered, Celebration Rock, The Nerdist, Strangers, Not By Accident, Savage Lovecast, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Code Switch, Citizen Radio, Selected Shorts, The Longest Shortest Time, My Dad Wrote a Porno, Snap Judgement, Reply All, Mystery Show, Extra Pack of Peanuts, Song Exploder, Death Sex and Money, How Did This Get Made, and Note to Self.

(Is it just me or are podcasts KILLING IT lately?!?)

Oh, and in case you’re curious, this is what MY current subscription* list looks like:

Plus, I just listened to an episode of Real Talk Radio per Laskmy’s recommendation and LOVED it and I can’t wait to check out The Box, a new podcast created by my friend Lauren (her favorites are featured up top).

*These subscriptions are definitely more of my “every day” podcasts, like for working out or chores. For long road-trips I prefer stuff like You Must Remember This, Mystery Show, and Serial.

Ok guys, I know this was a pretty exhaustive list…but what’s been left off? What have YOU been listening to lately?

My Top 10 Skin Care Staples

June 21, 2016Every day lifebeauty products, FOTD, products I love, recommendations, what's on my face, what's on my skinBeth Berger

Today I thought I’d give you a peek at the products that have currently taken up residence on the side of sink. While my skin care routine is fairly minimal, I’ve found a groove that works for me. And I’ve come a long ways since my college days when I would regularly dive into bed after a debate tournament with a face full of makeup and wake up the next morning armed with a bar of hotel soap and a rough washcloth. My skin thanks me for each small step I’ve taken away from that nightmare, trust me. So, here’s a look at the goo and gloop that I slather on my epidermis, why I love it, and when I use it…

1. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser I switched to this cleanser about 6 months ago and I think it would take something extra special for me to fall out of love with it. I use it to wash my face morning and night. It is so gentle, doesn’t dry out the skin, and leaves my face feeling super clean.

2. Alba Botanica Hawaiian Facial Scrub I mentioned this scrub in a monthly favorites and for good reason. Alba Botanica is one of my favorite skin care brands and this scrub doesn’t disappoint! It contains gentle buffing granules to refine pores and leave skin feeling all a-glow. I feel like a lot of folks get a little addicted to scrubs. They just make your skin feel so soft as soon as you step away from the sink. But over-using can cause your skin to produce excess oils, having the adverse effect that you intended. So I only use this guy once a week.

3. Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Clay Facial Mask Similar to scrubs, I like to do a mask about once a week. I don’t actually recommend the mask pictured here (I’m just too stubborn to let a product that’s just okay go to waste). I bought it when I popped into CVS for a treat yo’self one-use mask. This full-size version was only two dollars more than the mini so I figured, “What the hey?” In reality, not my favorite. (And now I know…masks = worth investing in. Don’t waste your money on the cheapy-cheaps!) I would recommend this one or this one instead. But the point is, indulging in a face mask once in a while is awesome and my skin loves it!

4. Up & Up Sensitive Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes Sometimes I get a little lazy and need to swipe off some mascara with out turning on a tap, ya feel me? Because I take my laziness very seriously, I’ve tried a whole bunch of these genius little wipes. And these are hands down my favorite. Check ’em out if you suffer from occasional bouts of laziness as well.

5. Vichy Lifactive Supreme As I mentioned in this post, this stuff is kind of amazing. I dab a bit of this cream on fine lines day or night as needed. It soaks right into the skin, without feeling wet or tacky, and has instant results. It smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while brightening and firming the skin. I don’t have a whole lot of experience with anti-aging products, but I’d totally recommend this one!

6. Cetaphil Mouisturizing Cream Since moving to South Florida, dry skin hasn’t been so much of a concern. (No winters!) But keeping a good drug-store moisturizer on deck for those days when my skin has endured a long day of sun and salt-water is generally a good idea. I used to swear by the drug-store dupes for Aveeno, but since receiving Cetaphil in an Influenster box, I’m a convert. I just pick up a sample size at Target so it can easily travel with me to colder climates.

7. Alaffia Coconut Water Face Toner In lieu of a cream, like the one above, for everyday moisture, I love this coconut water face toner. It feels so nice to just mist it on, especially in this heat, and it smells good too! Bonus: It’s made from certified Fair Trade ingredients. Woohoo!

8. Wellness of Eden Lavender Body Oil For moisturizing my body, I love using oils because they soak right into the skin. To me, lotions tend to feel like they’re hovering on top of the skin and can feel greasy. I specifically like to use lavender because I shower at night, and nothing will transport you to sleepytime like a little post-shower lavender aromatherapy.

9. Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunscreen SPF 30 More Alba Botanica! I’m a half German, half Irish girl living in a very tropical world. Daily sunscreen is a must. While I tend to use a more sport-oriented sunscreen when we go to the beach or pool, I use this one on my face and shoulders for day-to-day adventures out into the great outdoors…like walking through my parking lot to get to the car.

10. Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer For a touch of color correction and concealing this little tube has been my go-to the last few months. It has a very light formula that’s great for sensitive skin while still providing enough coverage to even out skin tone. I’ll definitely repeat purchase this brand!